Geographic Information Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of geographic data collection, analysis, and visualization using technology.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$78K
salary
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Geographic Information Science Overview
Study of geographic data collection, analysis, and visualization using technology.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
65%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
18%
Lifetime Premium
$500K
Female Graduates
35%
Geographic Information Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,650
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,650
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$483,350
Lifetime earnings premium ($500,000) minus net degree cost ($16,650)
Geographic Information Science Salary Progression
Common Geographic Information Science Careers
GIS Analyst
Geospatial Developer
Urban Planner
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Geographic Information Science
#1
Penn State
#2
UC Santa Barbara
#3
University of Wisconsin
#4
Ohio State
#5
Texas A&M
Related Majors
Geographic Information Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Geographic Information Science Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for geographic information science programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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